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Ironton (OH) barred from 2025 OHSAA postseason

IMG_8358by: Andy Villamarzo11 hours agoAndy_Villamarzo
Syndication: Canton Repository
Ironton wide receiver Shaun Terry takes a moment after the Fighting Tigers defeated Liberty Center in the OHSAA Division V state final, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, in Canton.

According to a statement by the Ironton Board of Education on Friday night, the five-time state champion Ironton (OH) Fighting Tigers will be missing out on the 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) playoffs due to sanctions handed down by the association, per WSAZ NewsChannel 3’s Joseph Payton.

Ironton won last year’s OHSAA Division V state championship, but will not get a chance to defend their title this fall due to the statement saying that the OHSAA had determined that the coaching staff had committed recruiting violations stemming from the 2018, 2019 and 2025 seasons.

Also included in the sanctions, per the statement, are three coaches will be banned for next year’s playoffs and the football program placed on probation through the 2027-28 school year.

Here is the statement from the Ironton Board of Education in its entirety:

“To the Ironton school community,

It is with heavy hearts that we share with you that we have received notification from the OHSAA of their determination that District coaching staff engaged in recruiting violations in 2018, 2019, and 2025, and that OHSAA’s sanctions will include suspension of Ironton High School from participation in this year’s playoffs. The sanctions further include OHSAA’s suspension of the three coaches involved from coaching in the playoffs next year, as well as placement of the football program on probation through the 2027-2028 school year. To be clear, these are the sanctions imposed by the OHSAA; the Ironton Board of Education has taken no action at this time. The OHSAA’s determination followed an investigation during which we repeatedly advocated strongly for the District’s football program and its students, presented all rebuttal evidence available to us, and did everything we could in the short time provided to achieve a different outcome.

We are deeply disappointed in this determination, particularly because the sanctions imposed harm our students who were in no way involved in any wrongdoing, and we are particularly distressed about the impact on our seniors. We want you to know, however, that the sanctions initially proposed by the OHSAA would have made our team ineligible to participate in playoffs for two years and their decision to remove the ban in the second year was a result of our advocacy on the team’s behalf. We understand that many of you are upset. After consultation with attorneys who have the most successful experience with legal challenges to OHSAA determinations as well as multiple local attorneys, it was their collective recommendation that we accept the negotiated sanctions presented to us at this point in time.

Moving forward, we are fully committed to ensuring that appropriate corrective measures are taken to avoid any further adverse impact on our football program. This is a setback, but this has not erased the hard work and accomplishments of our students as a team this year. We are so proud of them. We will not let this take away our pride or our legacy, and we will strive, as always, to uphold the values that define Ironton City Schools both on and off the field.“

Football players from Ironton protested out front of the Ironton School Board office on Friday morning, protesting against the final decision to ban the Fighting Tigers from the OHSAA playoffs.

The OHSAA is expected to make an official statement on Saturday on their final decision regarding punishments for the Fighting Tigers’ football program.

“We are out here fighting, for our right to be able to play in the state playoffs,” Ironton senior Zayne Williams said via a Ironton Tribune report. “It has been taken away from us by some individuals that haven’t got what they want in life and it has come back on these kids.”

Ironton finished the regular season 9-1 after a 55-13 victory over Portsmouth at home on Friday night.

We will have more on this story as it develops

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